The Gathering of Israel

Chapter 8—The Upheavals Of 1848

In 1848, as a rash of revolutions broke out in Europe, popular uprisings toppled thrones and upset power structures in many countries, even driving the pope to flight and making Rome a republic. In 1849 there was fear of a Russian invasion from the north. GI 6.5

Some Adventists saw these events as the “shaking of the powers of heaven.” ¹ To many the upheaval of the “Gentile powers” of Europe presaged the end of the “times of the Gentiles” and the restoration of Israel, especially since in some countries the revolutions brought new freedom to the Jews. It was generally supposed that the “times of the Gentiles” extended to the Second Advent. ² GI 6.6

In mid-1848 Josiah Litch, one of the leading Millerite authors, was stirred by the current revolutions. Because in some countries these brought new freedom to Jews, he looked for an imminent emancipation of the Jews and the Holy Land from being trodden underfoot by Gentile domination, at the end of the 2300 years. He concluded (though he doubted this later) ³ that “we are near, if not in the midst of, the events connected with the cleansing of the sanctuary.” In his The Restitution he said that “all Israel”—the saved of the Jews of all ages—would be gathered to inherit the kingdom in the new earth forever at the first resurrection, though he added that the Gentile saints would share it with them; and he rejected probation after the Advent. ⁴ GI 6.7

In November, 1848, Mordecai M. Noah, a Jewish newspaperman of New York City, delivered an address—widely reported in the press—on the arrival of a “messenger” from Jerusalem soliciting charity for the Jews there. Noah’s purple oratory transformed an appeal for funds (to build a synagogue in Jerusalem) into a trumpet blast heralding the emancipation of the Jews and foreshadowing their restoration. GI 6.8

The thunders begin to roll all over Europe; ... the Sun of Liberty begins to rise; the chains of the Jews are unloosed, and they are elevated to the rank of men .... The Sultan of Turkey, following the march of Civilized Nations, says to the Jews in his dominions—“You are free; you have my permission to erect a synagogue in Jerusalem[”]; and messengers are dispatched, as they were in the days of Solomon, to ask for aid from their brethren throughout the world .... GI 6.9

When the trumpet sounds from Mount Zion, every ear is opened, every heart throbs. I know full well, that there are many Jews throughout the world, who look upon the restoration of their brethren to the Holy Land as a possible event in the great changes which may hereafter occur .... GI 6.10

This permission to lay a corner stone once more in Jerusalem, to erect a magnificent temple ... is ... foreshadowing the great promises hereafter. ⁵ GI 6.11

Copied from one paper to another, Noah’s verbiage was boiled down into a news item: “Rebuilding of Jewish Temple.” ⁶ GI 6.12

There were other journalistic prophetic interpretations in circulation. One newspaper story announced that wealthy Jewish financiers of the Rothschild family were negotiating to buy the land of Canaan for the Jews. ⁷ As 1850 approached, the press quoted several prognostications of momentous events—one a 17th-century “prophecy” that there would be mid-19th-century upheavals in the nations, that a “prince from the north” would overrun Europe, and that “a new pastor, the final one” would come and bring peace. ⁸ Such newspaper stories were picked up by a few Adventist writers—by some for refutation, by others for exhibit as signs of the times. ⁹ GI 6.13

Individual timesetters looking to 1850 became more numerous than ever. Probably one reason for this, in addition to the world events, was the fact that 1850 was the latest date to which they could stretch the 2300 days by shifting the 70 weeks, without divorcing the latter from the crucifixion date (though when 1850 passed some managed to stretch the 2300 to 1851 anyway). ¹⁰ GI 7.1